The imperative mood in Spanish is used to give direct commands or instructions, make requests, or offer invitations. It exists for both affirmative (do something) and negative (don’t do something) commands.
- Tú form: For regular verbs, the affirmative tú command is the same as the third person singular form of the present indicative (él/ella form). For example, hablar → habla, comer → come, vivir → vive.
- Usted form: Use the present subjunctive form for formal commands. For example, hable, coma, viva.
- Nosotros form: Also uses the present subjunctive to give inclusive commands meaning “let’s do something.” For example, hablemos, comamos, vivamos.
- Vosotros form: In Spain, the affirmative vosotros command is formed by replacing the infinitive ending -r with -d. For example, hablad, comed, vivid.
- Negative commands: For all forms, negative commands use the present subjunctive. For example, no hables, no coma, no viváis.
Irregular commands exist, especially in the tú form (e.g., haz, ten, ven, di, pon, sal, sé, ve). The imperative is a key mood for everyday conversation and polite requests.
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Table of Contents
- Affirmative Commands
Affirmative commands in Spanish are used to tell someone to do something. They are direct verb forms expressing orders, advice, or instructions.
- Negative Commands
Negative commands in Spanish tell someone not to do something. They use the subjunctive mood and include the word "no" before the verb.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
